Editing George Lucas (section)

===2012–present: Semi-retirement===
{{quote box|width=30%|quote=I'm moving away from the business ... From the company, from all this kind of stuff.|source=—George Lucas on his future career plans<ref name="NYT Lucas">{{cite news |first=Bryan |last=Curtis |title=George Lucas Is Ready to Roll the Credits |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=January 17, 2012 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/magazine/george-lucas-red-tails.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220102/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/magazine/george-lucas-red-tails.html |archive-date=January 2, 2022 |url-access=limited |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}}

In January 2012, Lucas announced his retirement from producing large [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]] films, and instead re-focusing his career on smaller, independently budgeted features.<ref name="NYT Lucas" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/george-lucas-ready-focus-personal-movies/ |title=George Lucas Ready to Retire From Blockbuster Filmmaking |last=Fischer |first=Russ |publisher=[[/Film]] |date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=January 17, 2012 |archive-date=March 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301004157/https://www.slashfilm.com/george-lucas-ready-focus-personal-movies/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movieline.com/2012/01/17/george-lucas-promises-retirement-from-blockbusters-not-counting-indiana-jones-5/ |title=George Lucas Promises Retirement (From Blockbusters ... Not Counting Indiana Jones 5) |last1=Yamato |first1=Jen |work=Movie Line |date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=January 17, 2012 |archive-date=March 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301021149/http://www.movieline.com/2012/01/17/george-lucas-promises-retirement-from-blockbusters-not-counting-indiana-jones-5/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2012, it was announced that producer [[Kathleen Kennedy (film producer)|Kathleen Kennedy]], a long-term collaborator with Steven Spielberg and a producer of the ''Indiana Jones'' films, had been appointed as co-chair of Lucasfilm Ltd.<ref name=SWcom1Jun2012>[https://www.starwars.com/news/kathleen_kennedy_to_become_co-chair_of_lucasfilm-ltd.html "Kathleen Kennedy to become Co-Chair of Lucasfilm Ltd."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029134458/http://starwars.com/news/kathleen_kennedy_to_become_co-chair_of_lucasfilm-ltd.html |date=October 29, 2012 }}, ''StarWars.com'', June 1, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.</ref><ref name=LATimes2Jun2012>Richard Verrier and Ben Fritz, [https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-jun-02-la-fi-ct-lucas-kennedy-20120602-story.html "Kathleen Kennedy to helm Lucasfilm as George Lucas phases out"], ''Los Angeles Times'', June 2, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.</ref> It was reported that Kennedy would work alongside Lucas, who would remain chief executive and serve as co-chairman for at least one year, after which she would succeed him as the company's sole leader.<ref name=SWcom1Jun2012 /><ref name=LATimes2Jun2012 /> With the sale of Lucasfilm to Disney, Lucas is currently Disney's second-largest single shareholder, after the estate of [[Steve Jobs]].<ref name="WSJ Lucas">{{cite news |first=Joseph B. |last=White |title=The Mouse and the Wookie: Lucas Becomes a Big Disney Shareholder |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=October 30, 2012 |access-date=October 31, 2012 |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2012/10/30/the-mouse-and-the-wookie-lucas-becomes-a-big-disney-shareholder/ |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194203/https://www.wsj.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lucas worked as a creative consultant on the [[Star Wars sequel trilogy|''Star Wars'' sequel trilogy]]'s first film, ''[[The Force Awakens]]''.<ref name=PM>{{cite web |work=[[PopMatters]] |author=Maçek III, J.C. |title=Can Star Wars Be Saved? |date=August 27, 2018 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/can-star-wars-be-saved-2598718617.html |access-date=August 27, 2018 |archive-date=August 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828104231/https://www.popmatters.com/can-star-wars-be-saved-2598718617.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Lucas's involvement included attending early story meetings; according to Lucas, "I mostly say, 'You can't do this. You can do that.' You know, 'The cars don't have wheels. They fly with antigravity.' There's a million little pieces ... I know all that stuff."<ref name=BloombergMar2013>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-07/how-disney-bought-lucasfilm-and-its-plans-for-star-wars |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308091739/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-07/how-disney-bought-lucasfilm-and-its-plans-for-star-wars |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |title=How Disney Bought Lucasfilm—and Its Plans for 'Star Wars' |last=Leonard |first=Devin |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=March 7, 2013 |access-date=May 26, 2013}}</ref> Lucas's son Jett told ''The Guardian '' that his father was "very torn" about having sold the rights to the franchise, despite having hand-picked Abrams to direct, and that his father was "there to guide" but that "he wants to let it go and become its new generation."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/09/star-wars-george-lucas-jj-abrams |title=Star Wars sequels: George Lucas 'constantly talking' to JJ Abrams |author=Child, Ben |date=October 9, 2013 |access-date=January 23, 2015 |work=[[The Guardian]] |archive-date=October 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010083951/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/09/star-wars-george-lucas-jj-abrams |url-status=live }}</ref> Among the materials turned over to the production team were story treatments Lucas developed when he considered creating Episodes ''VII''–''IX'' himself; in January 2015, Lucas stated that Disney had discarded his story ideas.<ref name="Collider">{{cite news |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |title=George Lucas Says His Treatments for the New STAR WARS Films Were Discarded |date=January 21, 2015 |url=https://collider.com/george-lucas-new-star-wars-movies-treatments/ |work=Collider |access-date=January 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127051200/http://collider.com/george-lucas-new-star-wars-movies-treatments/ |archive-date=January 27, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Lucas_treatment_unused">{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/How-George-Lucas-Star-Wars-7-Ideas-Were-Used-By-Disney-69271.html |title=How George Lucas' Star Wars 7 Ideas Were Used By Disney |access-date=January 20, 2015 |publisher=Cinema Blend |year=2015 |author=Nick Romano |format=Written coverage /Video interview |archive-date=December 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211034620/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/How-George-Lucas-Star-Wars-7-Ideas-Were-Used-By-Disney-69271.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Secretary Kerry Chats With 2015 Kennedy Center Honors Recipient George Lucas (23244763499).jpg|thumb|left|Lucas with Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] in Washington, D.C., on December 5, 2015]]

''The Force Awakens'', directed by [[J. J. Abrams]], was released on December 18, 2015. Kathleen Kennedy produced the film and its sequels.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/george-lucas-creative-consultant-role-in-star-wars-2012-11 |work=Business Insider Australia |title=Here's What George Lucas' Role As Creative Consultant in the New Star Wars Films Mean |access-date=August 29, 2014 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194218/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/george-lucas-creative-consultant-role-in-star-wars-2012-11 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/a-new-star-wars-is-coming-in-2015-2012-10 |work=Business Insider Australia |title=A New Star Wars Is Coming |access-date=August 29, 2014 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194254/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/a-new-star-wars-is-coming-in-2015-2012-10 |url-status=live }}</ref> The new sequel trilogy was jointly produced by Lucasfilm and [[The Walt Disney Company]], which had acquired Lucasfilm in 2012.<ref name="British Broadcasting Corporation">{{cite news |title=Disney buys Star Wars maker Lucasfilm from George Lucas |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20146942 |work=BBC News Website |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=October 31, 2012 |access-date=June 20, 2018 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194241/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-20146942 |url-status=live }}</ref> During an interview with talk show host and journalist [[Charlie Rose]] that aired on December 24, 2015, Lucas likened his decision to sell Lucasfilm to Disney to a divorce and outlined the creative differences between him and the producers of ''The Force Awakens''. Lucas went on to say that he needed to support the company and its employees who were going to suffer financially.<ref>{{Citation |title=George Lucas Calls Disney "White Slavers" in Charlie Rose interview | date=January 2, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jWtbJxzGpQ |language=en |access-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027235404/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jWtbJxzGpQ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lucas described the previous six ''Star Wars'' films as his "children" and defended his vision for them, while criticizing ''The Force Awakens'' for having a "retro feel", saying: "I worked very hard to make them completely different, with different planets, with different spaceships – you know, to make it new." Lucas also drew some criticism and subsequently apologized for his remark likening Disney to "white slavers".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Child |first1=Ben |title=Attack of the moans: George Lucas hits out at 'retro' Star Wars: The Force Awakens |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/31/george-lucas-attacks-retro-star-wars-the-force-awakens |access-date=April 18, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=December 31, 2015 |archive-date=October 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001032034/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/31/george-lucas-attacks-retro-star-wars-the-force-awakens |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Peterson |first1=Jeff |title=George Lucas elaborates on his reaction to 'The Force Awakens' |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865645039/George-Lucas-elaborates-on-his-reaction-to-The-Force-Awakens.html |access-date=April 18, 2016 |newspaper=[[Deseret News]] |date=January 7, 2016 |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414125407/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865645039/George-Lucas-elaborates-on-his-reaction-to-The-Force-Awakens.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2015, Lucas wrote the CGI film ''[[Strange Magic (film)|Strange Magic]]'', his first musical. The film was produced at [[Skywalker Ranch]]. [[Gary Rydstrom]] directed the movie.<ref name="Heat Vision">{{cite web |url=http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/01/george-lucas-cgi-musical-kevin-munroe.html |title=George Lucas producing a CGI musical! Featuring ... fairies? |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=January 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130213432/http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/01/george-lucas-cgi-musical-kevin-munroe.html |archive-date=January 30, 2010}}</ref> At the same time the sequel trilogy was announced, a [[Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny|fifth installment]] of the ''Indiana Jones'' series also entered pre-development phase with [[Harrison Ford]] and Steven Spielberg set to return. Lucas originally did not specify whether the selling of Lucasfilm would affect his involvement with the film. In October 2016, Lucas announced his decision to not be involved in the story of the film but was nevertheless credited as an executive producer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2016/10/24/george-lucas-is-no-longer-involved-in-indiana-jones-5/ |title=George Lucas Is No Longer Involved In 'Indiana Jones 5' |first=Dani Di |last=Placido |website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194242/https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2016/10/24/george-lucas-is-no-longer-involved-in-indiana-jones-5/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/indiana-jones-5-george-lucas-david-koepp/ |title=Exclusive: George Lucas Not Involved in 'Indiana Jones 5' Story; Writer David Koepp Talks 'Crystal Skull' |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=October 24, 2016 |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194243/https://collider.com/indiana-jones-5-george-lucas-david-koepp/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, ''[[Rogue One: A Star Wars Story]]'', the first film of a ''Star Wars'' anthology series was released. It told the story of the rebels who stole the plans for the [[Death Star]] featured in the original ''Star Wars'' film, and it was reported that Lucas liked it more than ''The Force Awakens''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/george-lucas-likes-rogue-one-more-than-force-awakens-a-1789694908 |title=George Lucas Likes Rogue One More Than Force Awakens, and Other Fun Facts We Learned This Weekend |first=Cheryl |last=Eddy |date=December 5, 2016 |access-date=January 18, 2017 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162409/https://io9.gizmodo.com/george-lucas-likes-rogue-one-more-than-force-awakens-a-1789694908 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Last Jedi]]'', the second film in the sequel trilogy, was released in 2017; Lucas described the film as "beautifully made".<ref>{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Ryan |title=George Lucas Thinks 'The Last Jedi' Was "Beautifully Made" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-george-lucas-thinks-last-jedi-was-beautifully-made-1067092 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=April 25, 2019 |date=December 12, 2017 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162249/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-george-lucas-thinks-last-jedi-was-beautifully-made-1067092 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lucas has had cursory involvement with ''[[Solo: A Star Wars Story]]'' (2018),<ref>{{cite web |last=McCreesh |first=Louise |date=February 13, 2018 |title=George Lucas was already developing a Han Solo movie before Disney bought Lucasfilm |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a849876/george-lucas-solo-a-star-wars-story-han-solo-movie-disney-lucasfilm/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016234917/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a849876/george-lucas-solo-a-star-wars-story-han-solo-movie-disney-lucasfilm/ |archive-date=16 October 2020 |access-date=March 14, 2018 |work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/2018/02/09/ron-howard-solo-a-star-wars-story/ |title=Ron Howard: A Star Wars Story—Why the Oscar-winner joined Solo in its time of upheaval |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 9, 2018 |access-date=February 22, 2018 |archive-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414012221/https://ew.com/movies/2018/02/09/ron-howard-solo-a-star-wars-story/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> the ''Star Wars'' streaming series ''[[The Mandalorian]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |title='The Mandalorian' Actor Giancarlo Esposito Describes the New Technology Used on the 'Star Wars' Show |url=https://collider.com/the-mandalorian-filming-details-giancarlo-esposito/ |website=Collider |access-date=April 22, 2019 |date=April 18, 2019 |archive-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422214859/http://collider.com/the-mandalorian-filming-details-giancarlo-esposito/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the premiere of the [[Game of Thrones season 8|eighth season]] of ''[[Game of Thrones]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Julia |title=George Lucas helped direct Game of Thrones' season 8 premiere |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/17/18412156/george-lucas-game-of-thrones-got-season-8-hbo-final-behind-the-scenes-jon-snow-daenerys-targeryen |website=The Verge |access-date=April 25, 2019 |date=April 17, 2019 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194247/https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/17/18412156/george-lucas-game-of-thrones-got-season-8-hbo-final-behind-the-scenes-jon-snow-daenerys-targeryen |url-status=live }}</ref> Lucas met with J. J. Abrams before the latter began writing the script to the sequel trilogy's final film, ''[[The Rise of Skywalker]]'', which was released in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/george-lucas-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-jj-abrams-1202058551/ |title=How George Lucas Helped J.J. Abrams With the Script for 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' |website=[[IndieWire]] |date=April 13, 2019 |access-date=May 15, 2020 |first=Michael |last=Nordine |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818035047/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/george-lucas-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-jj-abrams-1202058551/ |url-status=live }}</ref>